Talk about sex little and often

Don't have one big talk about sex. Make it an open, ongoing topic. Have lots of little talks whenever the subject comes up, and start before your child is a teenager.

Let your teen know that they can talk to you about anything that's on their mind.

One of the easiest ways to bring up the topic is during everyday activities like washing up or watching TV. This makes it less of an event.

You can use the storyline in a programme, or a celebrity in the news. For example, you could say, "What do you think about the fact they've had sex?"

Listen to your child's answer. You could then talk about why it's important to use a condom and contraception to protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and pregnancy. Make sure your child knows where they can get them. Don't sound judgemental or critical.

If your child is gay, they still need to know about contraception. People who identify as gay or lesbian might have sexual contact with people of the opposite sex, so it's important that they know about contraception and how to avoid unintended pregnancy.